The U.S. military announced on Sunday that it is enhancing its air support capabilities in the Middle East and placing troops on a heightened state of readiness for potential deployment to the area, as it issued a warning to Iran regarding the escalation of the ongoing conflict.

This decision follows President Joe Biden‘s directive to the Pentagon to modify U.S. military positioning in the region, driven by growing concerns that Israel‘s recent elimination of the leader of Iran-supported Hezbollah could provoke a response from Tehran.

Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder emphasized the U.S. commitment to preventing Iran and its allied groups from taking advantage of the current situation or escalating the conflict.

He further warned that should Iran or its affiliated groups attempt to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States would take all necessary actions to protect its citizens.

The Pentagon’s statement provided limited information regarding the extent of the new air deployment, indicating only that “we will further reinforce our defensive air-support capabilities in the coming days.”

On Sunday, Israel intensified its military actions in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah following the elimination of the group’s leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, along with several other high-ranking commanders as part of an escalating offensive.

These strikes have significantly weakened Hezbollah, marking a series of devastating losses for the group after nearly a year of cross-border hostilities, which have exposed significant security vulnerabilities. However, this situation has raised concerns about the U.S. government’s stated objectives of containing the conflict and ensuring the safety of American personnel across the Middle East.

John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, noted on Sunday that the United States is closely monitoring Hezbollah’s attempts to address its leadership void and is in ongoing discussions with Israeli officials regarding appropriate next steps.

While the U.S. State Department has not yet mandated an evacuation from Lebanon, last week, U.S. officials informed Reuters that the Pentagon was deploying a small number of additional troops to Cyprus to assist in preparations for potential scenarios, including the evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon.

The Pentagon confirmed that U.S. forces are being positioned for possible deployment if necessary. “Secretary Austin has increased the readiness of additional U.S. forces to deploy, enhancing our preparedness to respond to various contingencies,” Ryder stated.